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DJs using sound engineers

Obviously it's something that has gone on for a while, maybe more so recently as the electronic music world expands.

What are people's thoughts on a DJ using a sound engineer? Is it right for a DJ to have tracks written for him? Or for a DJ never even to look at a DAW and have all his tracks produced, such as ghost writing?

Is it ok for a DJ to seek help when writing?

I know a few that I could name drop, but not sure that would be morally right, so let's just keep it to your thoughts on the subject.

Obviously it's something that has gone on for a while, maybe more so recently as the electronic music world expands.

What are people's thoughts on a DJ using a sound engineer? Is it right for a DJ to have tracks written for him? Or for a DJ never even to look at a DAW and have all his tracks produced, such as ghost writing?

Is it ok for a DJ to seek help when writing?

I know a few that I could name drop, but not sure that would be morally right, so let's just keep it to your thoughts on the subject.

Discuss.

Morning Joe,

Nice to have the sun shining on our city for a change.

im not sure were your going with this question matey, are you talking about for production and having a masterer for your tracks or for a live djin set were the engineer tweaks the eq volume etc while you dj??

It's sunny, but I've still had to whip out the old scarf this morning! I was hoping to have a techno BBQ this weekend but Manchester is expecting rain. Shocker!

No, nothing to do with mastering or live sets. When I say sound engineer I don't mean the type you find at a venue. I mean the sound engineers that have proficient skills in Ableton/Logic or any other type of DAW. This in essence, means that DJs who can't produce (and feel the need to), seek these people and say; write me a techno track or write me a dubstep track. This comes at an expense obviously.

Now, what I'm asking if do people see a problem with this. If a DJ has an idea for a track but doesn't have the technically capacity to carry this out so he goes to an engineer and they sit down together and the engineer writes the track with the DJs input. However, the is another side. Some DJs simply email an engineer and say "write me a deep house track". This is called 'Ghost Writing'.

Ahh i see what your on about now, ummm i kinda do this at work at times; sometimes im the producer for some of the tv shows we commision but i dont have the editing skills to make the show, i will sit in the editing suete with a editor and tell him what to do, so the idea will be coming from me or whoever but the editor puts it together...

in regards to music etc, i suppose this is what most pop artists do... they recieve a beat/song and then write the lyrics (sometimes dont even do that) and sing over it.

i would probably sit down with a engineer and run through it but mainly so that i could learn how to use the DAW whilst with him....

What are people's thoughts on a DJ using a sound engineer? Is it right for a DJ to have tracks written for him? Or for a DJ never even to look at a DAW and have all his tracks produced, such as ghost writing?

Is it ok for a DJ to seek help when writing?

There's 2 perspectives here, a producer perspective and a DJ perspective. I think as a DJ it's not necessary to have any original tracks at all, and that DJing as an artform is pretty much independent of making original music. So as a DJ if you have someone producing original stuff for you, like you're working with a producer who can't DJ and you're a DJ who can't produce, I see no problem with it.

From a producer/musician perspective obviously it's really lame to stamp your name on stuff you didn't make.

I think it's important to keep the 2 separated in a discussion like this even though there's a lot of overlap between the 2 nowadays. It's different if the person is a DJ, a producer, or a producer + DJ. Like as a DJ I think it's assumed that much of the music you play isn't yours, and as a producer I think it's assumed that all of the music you release is yours. I think for a producer/DJ it's the same as being a producer... it's a bit corny to take credit for someone else's work.

BUT I can't say it's completely black and white, there could be legitimate reasons for a producer/DJ releasing stuff that's not him but in general it's probably rare and in most cases it's not cool.

Soon as I have one dude when the weather is better I will give you a shout. Decks in the garden, bliss!

Originally Posted by city_boy07

is this something your thinking of doing Joe?

Definitely not. I like to think I have a lot more pride than to try pass something off as my own. You may get a lot of praise but at the back of your mind there must always be that guilt that you didn't actually have any input in the original track.

I would love the opportunity to sit down with a sound engineer for tips/tricks and hopefully he could help me express my ideas on the screen. Unfortunately, I haven't had that chance yet.

BUT I can't say it's completely black and white, there could be legitimate reasons for a producer/DJ releasing stuff that's not him but in general it's probably rare and in most cases it's not cool.

I don't think it's as rare as you may think Vekked. Especially with high end DJs who haven't time to sit down and write. And I agree, it's very lame passing something off as your own.

I agree, that sitting down with an engineer to help right is absolutely fine. After all they are the professionals and if you are a DJ you don't exactly have the time to sit down and learn a DAW inside out. That's where the engineer can help you enhance your knowledge through the DAW. If that makes sense.

Soon as I have one dude when the weather is better I will give you a shout. Decks in the garden, bliss!

Definitely not. I like to think I have a lot more pride than to try pass something off as my own. You may get a lot of praise but at the back of your mind there must always be that guilt that you didn't actually have any input in the original track.

I would love the opportunity to sit down with a sound engineer for tips/tricks and hopefully he could help me express my ideas on the screen. Unfortunately, I haven't had that chance yet.

Yeh id defo want to do something like that, a great way to learn is to shadow people and watch what they do....

I didnt think it would be something you'd do, ive already heard some of your stuff and its pretty good already.